Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Don't know what to say. 49 is way too young. RIP Jeff.
Jeff Hanneman, one of the founding guitarists of the pioneering thrash metal band Slayer, died today in Southern California of liver failure. He was 49.
Hanneman had been on hiatus from Slayer since early 2011, when he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that doctors believed might have been caused by a spider bite. Hanneman almost lost his arm, and was briefly placed in a medically-induced coma. After a series of skin grafts, he had been working on his physical rehabilitation, including playing guitar; the door had been left open for his return to Slayer upon recovery.
Hanneman performed on every Slayer release to date, and wrote many of the band's career-defining songs, including "Angel of Death," "South of Heaven," "Raining Blood" and "War Ensemble." Hanneman and Kerry King perfected a fiery twin-lead guitar style that propelled Slayer to the forefront of the thrash metal movement of the early 1980s, where they were crowned as one of the genre's "Big Four," along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax.
Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman Sidelined by Flesh-Eating Disease
Twin-guitar soloing was a hallmark of thrash metal from the start, but the particular brand of spiraling chaos that came from Hanneman and King's swapped leads created a more apocalyptic, uncontrollable atmosphere that helped set the band apart from its peers, who often opted for a more melodic approach. The band took pride in the distinction, with King telling Rolling Stone in 2009, "When we come on, it sounds like the world's going to end."
Hanneman grew up in a military family, and his fascination with warfare and violence came through in Slayer's artwork and lyrics, many of which he also wrote. His most notorious lyrics, from 1986's "Angel of Death," matter-of-factly describe the atrocities committed by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele at Auschwitz. Many mistook this interest in one of history's darkest chapters for endorsement or sympathy with its perpetrators – something the band has worked to rebut ever since.
Heavy Metal Thunder: Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax
As Slayer went on, Hanneman gradually reduced his lyrical contributions while continuing to write a significant portion of the music – including all but one of the tracks on 1998's Diabolus in Musica, as well as the song "Disciple" from 2001's God Hates Us All, which has become the band's standard set-opener in concert since then.
He developed an onstage style that became well-known among metal fans, as he was often clad in Oakland Raiders jerseys and camouflage pants or shorts, his hands blurred from ferocious picking as he hunched over a guitar emblazoned with a giant Heineken logo, the brand name replaced by "Hanneman."
Slayer formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1982, and released their debut, Show No Mercy, the following year. Hanneman wrote or co-wrote the majority of the material, including "Die by the Sword" and "Black Magic," which are still concert staples. The band released Reign in Blood in 1986, a Rick Rubin-produced, 29-minute concentrated blast that, for many, remains the be-all, end-all of thrash metal. Two of Hanneman's compositions, "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood," book-end the album. As the band developed into the 1990s, albums like Seasons in the Abyss and South of Heaven slowed down the tempos, opting instead to focus on eerie atmospheres and inspiring dread, while still displaying some of the ferocity of the band's earlier material. More recent efforts, including 2006's Christ Illusion and 2009's World Painted Blood, renewed the band's fascination with speed.
When Hanneman was forced to go on hiatus for health reasons two years ago, Exodus guitarist and fellow thrash pioneer Gary Holt took his place.
Hanneman's final appearance with Slayer was a surprise cameo during the encore of the Big Four Festival in Indio, California, on April 23rd, 2011. He performed two of his best-known songs, "South of Heaven" and "Angel of Death."
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...#ixzz2SL98PM4r
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...at-49-20130502
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Yeah read it still can't believe it. Rip
Here they did south of heaven in 2009 in Ma.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cqwh-hzD-c
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
I was thinking about him out there fishing last night. Life is a series of events. You hope you make them all but are not looking forward to the final curtain.
Thoughts and prayers to the family. You will be missed Jeff, one of the greats.
This was his last concert at the big 4 in Cali
He came on for the final 2 songs. RIP brother
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m0YWTwnKkY
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Another one from that show. South of Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDa1K21Y8w
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Didn't really listen to the music that much but I agree 49 is too young. t&P
Re: Jaff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ledhead36
ledhead that is a profound statement. RIP
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
:(I remember trading tapes with this kid in cali,one of the tapes was a slayer demo tape,the quality was 60% but,I didn't care.it was the most ungodly,unholy trinity of songs I had ever heard.I was instantly hooked.I was 19 years old and was thinking about getting a guitar and amp.hearing "die by the sword" finalized that idea.there were other influences to that idea and all of them helped. I was sad when I heard this news and thinking back to a show last year where Gary Holt from Exodus filled in doing shows with slayer and I wondered why,now we all know. Hail the godfathers of blackmetal thrash from now till the end! Jeff,rest in peace,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,R-P
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Thanks for posting Bluesdude.
This was a big cloud of sadness sent to me when Rip-Plugger sent me the news....:(
Roddy is one of the old-school guys who tries to keep everyone else up on what's happening in the metal world.
It was nice of you guys to post up some videos and memories to remember Slayer and Jeff Hanneman by....thanks. :thumbsup:
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rip-Plugger
:(I remember trading tapes with this kid in cali,one of the tapes was a slayer demo tape,the quality was 60% but,I didn't care.it was the most ungodly,unholy trinity of songs I had ever heard.I was instantly hooked.
I was 19 years old and was thinking about getting a guitar and amp.hearing "die by the sword" finalized that idea.there were other influences to that idea and all of them helped. I was sad when I heard this news and thinking back to a show last year where Gary Holt from Exodus filled in doing shows with slayer and I wondered why,now we all know. Hail the godfathers of blackmetal thrash from now till the end! Jeff,rest in peace,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,R-P
You said it Roddy....:HappyWave:
I remember getting into them as groups like Iron Maiden and Metallica started to get noticed.
Then Slayer came... and as an addictive person, I found my "fix". :drool:
Just like fishing friends know when and where the fish are, we had a network of metal heads...we knew when they were coming to play near us even before the announcements were made.....
I must have seen them almost every time they came to the NY metro area for a solid 10 years...there were very few shows I missed....
Those were the days, head banging, crowd surfing. the sickest mosh pits I have ever seen......:headbang:
There was also some brutality, and some jock-type kids who didn't understand the nature of moshing as this style became popular.....http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ons/icon13.png
I remember being at the Felt Forum Show, 1988?, MSG, one of the most insane shows I have ever been to. One sick show. I had to lead more than one blood-convered kid out of the pit as all hell broke loose and there really was no way for the security to keep order....
In the aftermath of that show, it was revealed that over $50k in damage was done to the felt forum, seat cushions ripped out, etc..... Slayer would never be welcome there again. Although I was there that night, the sickness, while it drew me in, was something that eventually turned me away from that type of show....
After getting in a few intense pit fights with these idiots who seemed to delight in picking on weaker kids, I guess my enthusiasm kinda waned and I started going less regularly.
Still followed them, eagerly awaited each new album and single....I was a hardcore Slayer fan....only stopped following them because I got older and kind of grew out of the whole mosh pit scene.....
Still, some great memories,,,,,
They were a big part of who I was in the 1980's and 90's....and some of the most intense shows I have ever been to...
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jeff.....
Jeff, you gave me something to look forward to in my young adult years....the excitement of a live Slayer concert will never be forgotten.....
Thanks for those memories and I hope you can Rock On in Heaven.......
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuO2EvCTAE
I went thru High school listing to slayer angel of death and Seasons of the Abyss are a couple of the songs that loved to listen to.
49 way to young. very sad. I heared on the Radio a few days ago. They said that Jeff Hanneman go bit by a spider. I always thought he got bit by a snake.
RIP
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DarkSkies
I remember being at the Felt Forum Show, 1988?, MSG, one of the most insane shows I have ever been to. One sick show. I had to lead more than one blood-convered kid out of the pit as all hell broke loose and there really was no way for the security to keep order....
In the aftermath of that show, it was revealed that over $50k in damage was done to the felt forum, seat cushions ripped out, etc..... Slayer would never be welcome there again.......
Hey dark you must be old! That was a long time ago found the show on youtube for ya.
What they said about the show-
"Live Felt Forum NY August 31st 1988 (infamous seat cushion riot!)"
"RIP JEFF!!!! You are a legend!
I was at this show, it was INSANE!!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6iYrPZ6YM
RIP sad news.
Re: Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is gone
I got an odd feeling when my wife and I saw them on the American carnage tour,Jeff did not seem himself,he was kinda stationary and it seemed like he was either in a bit of pain,feeling weak or just not fully with it. perhaps he was staying still to keep from hurting,whos to know.then late last year at mayhem festival Gary Holt from Exodus took his place,I wondered about that too,I just didn't know he was ill. R-P
